European football royalty AC Milan swapped the San Siro for a Northumberland field to give these lucky youngsters a masterclass.

Children at Blyth Town FC taking part in the Italian giants soccer camps got to rub shoulders with the club’s former players and current coaching staff to improve their game - Italian style, of course, or Calcio as they call the beautiful game back home!

The week-long summer school held at the Northumberland town’s football club has been heralded as a huge success by organisers who are also holding another masterclass tomorrow for Northumberland FA.

A week long camp at Hebburn Town FC begins on Monday and there will also be a camp in Hexham.

Among the world class coaches from the Rossoneri - the club’s nickname after their famous Red and Black shirts - testing out Blyth’s young stars were Elio Garavaglia, Virino Perelli, Beniamino Calderoli and Mauro Merlo.

The club is allegedly keen to see the standard of young English players and to expand its global scouting pool.

Last year the ex-AC Milan and Italy star Franco Baresi travelled to England to launch the summer football camps in Blyth, Hebburn and Sunderland, which he hopes would benefit grassroots football in the region.

The summer camps for children aged eight and upwards sees them begin training at 9am with an intense football session, with more sport to follow in the afternoon with tournaments for all the youngsters to take part in too.